Editor Brian Harrod Provides Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, with aggregated news from sources all over the world from the Roundup Newswires Network
Mainers breathed a huge sigh of relief when the American Health Care Act failed to get enough support to move through Congress. Thankfully, this damaging proposal was stopped, never making it to the House floor for a vote.
In this Friday, March 17, 2017 photo a sign advertises a program that allows food stamp recipients to use their EBT cards to shop at a farmer's market in Topsham, Maine.
US senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island were among the lawmakers from both parties who on Thursday were publicly questioning whether the potential cuts to the Coast Guard that were reported by the New York Times, Politico and other media outlets would serve Trump's stated goals. Terry McAuliffe says President Trump would be "foolish" to cut the Coast Guard's budget to help fund a wall along the U.S. -Mexico border.
From compromise on immigration to a renewed focus on economic growth, lawmakers latched onto presidential comments that lined up with their own political agendas. Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree said she felt "encouraged to hear President Trump touch on several things tonight where we can find agreement, including rebuilding our country's infrastructure, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, strengthening trade, and finding compromise on comprehensive immigration reform."
State and federal representatives are scrambling to fix the situation, which stemmed from fears over a 12-year-old federal act that critics say would create a national database of personal information. But states are starting to comply with the law because starting this year, federal agencies aren't accepting driver's licenses that don't meet security standards.
Good morning from Augusta, where we emerged from the year's biggest storm to Gov. Paul LePage saying he's looking to replace his former lawyer on the state commission that regulates utilities and calling on an Orono legislator to resign. That first item is a continuation of the Republican governor's crusade against the Maine Public Utilities Commission after their - and not repeal - a solar energy policy that allows panel owners to be credited for energy sold back to the grid.
Gov. Paul LePage said his State of the State speech on Tuesday took a soft tone compared to what he wanted to say. "Frankly, I thought we softened it up because I think they need to look at the mirror," he said during a radio appearance today on WGAN.
In these odd times, it's hard to imagine a topic of conversation on Capitol Hill that would surprise people. Paul Ryan, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Maine Senator Susan Collins all have opinions on the classic American dish, captured by New York Times 's Op-Ed columnist Frank Bruni and Washington reporter Jennifer Steinhauer in their brand new book, A Meatloaf in Every Oven . Even President Trump has opinions.
We all can guess what will happen to the 80,000 Mainers who obtained medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act when the Republicans repeal it . Our neighbors, friends and family members who received coverage as a result of the act will go without medical insurance, jeopardizing their health and their pocketbooks.
A statue of Daniel Webster is seen wearing a pink pussy hat and red equality shirt during the New Hampshire Women's Day of Action and Unity rally in front of the State House in Concord, N.H., on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017. less A statue of Daniel Webster is seen wearing a pink pussy hat and red equality shirt during the New Hampshire Women's Day of Action and Unity rally in front of the State House in Concord, N.H., on Saturday, Jan. ... more People gather between the Cross State Office Building and the Maine State House for the Women's March on Maine on Saturday Jan. 21, 2017 at the Maine State House in Augusta, Maine.
They've raised eyebrows, created national controversies, settled national controversies, won elections, lost elections, stuck it to their political enemies and signed truces with their political enemies. These five governors know how to make news.
In this Dec. 19, 2016 file photo, Lorry Fleming, center, of Bath, Maine, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, shouts at Donald Trump supporter Tom Thompson, left, of Topsham, Maine, outside the State House in Augusta, Maine, where the electoral college was meeting to elect the president. The split of Maine's presidential electoral votes for the first time was among the state's top stories in 2016.
While demonstrators made their voices heard at Electoral College gatherings all across the country, their plea to individual electors to rebel and drop Donald Trump went absolutely nowhere, as Hillary Clinton was actually the candidate who had more electors refuse to vote for her, with the final outcome moving President-Elect Trump one step closer to the White House. The biggest group of rogue electors was in Washington State, where three of them cast votes for former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and one voted for a native American environmental activist named Faith Spotted Eagle, instead of Clinton.
"I can't do anything to change the results of the election this year. But perhaps by encouraging these idealistic voters to stick around, I can change the results of elections to come."
The behind-the-scenes campaign for the Blaine House in 2018 has begun, with Republicans waiting to see if federal officeholders jump in, Democrats looking early at a potential insider-outsider race and independents mulling bids. It's a race that could reshape Maine, with the term-limited Paul LePage leaving the governorship in 2019, eight years after taking office in a historic year for Republicans that set Democrats back after 40 years in which they largely controlled state government.
After winning re-election last month by a wide margin, 28-year-old state Sen. Eric Brakey is eyeing what might come next. He has ruled out a possible gubernatorial bid in 2018 but hedged on whether he might take aim at U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who plans to seek a second term as Maine's junior senator.
The director of manufacturing at New Balance says a "Made-in-USA" provision for athletic footwear for military recruits could mean an additional 250,000 sneakers a year. Brendan Melley touted the figure Wednesday as three members of Maine's congressional delegation visited a New Balance factory in Skowhegan, the Morning Sentinel reported.
Rain and snow during the last couple of months have led to some improvement after an arid summer, according to the state's Drought Task Force. Yet much the state remains "in some form of drought or abnormally dry," Maine Emergency Management Agency Director Bruce Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement Friday.
If President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his plan to deport the millions of undocumented immigrants he claims have criminal records, Portland's policy is to cooperate. Although Maine's largest city historically has been welcoming to immigrants and has taken steps to protect them , it lacks the policies of so-called sanctuary cities.
It's important to recognize Veterans Day is set aside for the people among us - our friends, neighbors and family members - who have served. This year marks the 63rd anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and the 43rd anniversary of the withdrawal from Vietnam.